Members of parliament have castigated the minister for works and transport for lying to Ugandans that the Uganda Airlines Bombardiers would arrive in the country on Monday 8th 2019.
The minister is currently appearing before the parliamentary committee on Physical infrastructure where angry Members are throwing all kinds of questions at her, with some demanding to see qualifications of pilots that have been hired to fly them from Canada to Entebbe.
According to the minister, the bombardiers will make 5 stops before reaching Entebbe, yet the distance can only be covered in 12 hours. MPs are concerned that the planes are too old and will be undergoing repairs.
The minister further told MPs that the planes will be handed over to Ugandan officials on Tuesday next week (16th April) and will arrive at Entebbe on 23rd April where president Yoweri Museveni will receive them.
However, MPs say over stopping will lead to an increase in costs especially accommodation of members who will have gone to pick them and the crew.
Others want the minister to not lie and excite Ugandans about the arrival of planes when they are not ready. Hon. Elijah Okupa told the minister that he will be in Canada during the said time and will inform Ugandans if indeed the planes will be ready or not to fly.
Legislators wondered why the seller set a deadline for payment but not one for delivery. Committee chairman Hon. Kafeero Robert Ssekitoleko told the minister to exhaustively answer the MPs’ queries.
The minister however insisted on the word “expected” in relation to arrival of the plane because there is still a possibility that the planes will not be here on such a day.
Also, legislators were concerned that 23rd April is Easter Monday and that it may not be possible for the planes to be delivered on such a day, being a public holiday.
